Apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oils



May 4-, 1926. 1,582,893

O. BEHIMER APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBON OILS Filed Feb. 15. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,[IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/ 'IIIIIIIIIII V May 4 1926. r 1,582,893

0. BEHIMER APPARATUS FOR. TREATING HYDROCARBON OILS Fnd Feb. 15, 1924 2'Sheets-Sheet 2 x8? ms I I WE W 5 Td 'L I 1 TI n 1M1 Patented M 1926. g

UNITED STATES 1,582,893 PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO BEHIIEB, 01 PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO THE TEXAS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF TEXAS.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDBOCARBON OILS.

Application filed February 15, 1924. Serial No. $2,974.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, O'rro BEHIMER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Port Arthur,county of J eiierson, and State 1i Texas,..have; invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Treating- Hydrocarbon Oils, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for carrying on heat treatment of-hydrocarbons, such for example as digestion andndistillation, and has special reference to the cracking or decomposltion of hydrocarbons.

Fundamentally the invention contemplates a the provision of a treating vessel in the nature of a digester, still or converter equipped with internal heating means and with external insulating means that is adjustable or readily removable, and an important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a still or converter formed with a plurality of hinged cover elements. The invention has particular reference to certain novel features of.construction and arrangement of parts an example of whichis given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatlc sectional elevation of an apparatus constituting a specific example of the invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation partially in section of a heating vesselco'nstructed in accordance with the invention and constituting an embodiment thereof.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 1 is a section of a heating element employed taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the heating element.

Figure 6 is a sectional detail of a hinged door employed.

In the particular example of the invention illustrated in Figure 1 there is shown appa ratus in which the hydrocarbon material is preliminarily heated in a'coil type of heater after which t is dischargedinto a treatin or reaction vessel provided-with internal 1eating means and ad'ustable. insulating means.

Thus a coil 10 is s own suitably mounted in a furnace 11 which is adapted to heat the oil to the particular temperature desired for the treatment, such for example as a temperature sufficient to effect decomposition or cracking of the hydrocarbons; The hydrolize waste flue gases or other heated products derived from the operation of the system to assist in raising the hydrocarbons to the required temperature.

The outlet 14 of the coil extends to a treating vessel 15 which may constitute a digestion drum, cracking vessel or still in which the hydrocarbons aresubjected to the heat desired. If distillation be carried on during the treatment the vessel 15 may be provided with a vapor line 16 which may lead to a preliminary cooler orfractionating device 17 which may be in the form of an air condenser, bubble or packed tower, or other equivalent apparatus. The outlet 18 of the preliminary cooler or fr'actionating device 17 may extend to a condensing coil 19 and a receiving drum 20 may be provided to collect the cooled or condensed products from the condenser. 19. The receiving drum is shown-with a valved gas outlet 21 and a valved liquid outlet 22. The preliminary cooler or fractionating device 17 may be provided with a reflux line I to backtrap condensate to thevessel 15, means may be provided to pass this condensate to the heating coil 10. The vessel 15 is preferably equipped with a liquid drawofl line 23. It is to be understood that if it is not intended to carry on distillation during the treatment in the vessel 15, no vapor line need be provided. If desired the vessel may be equipped with scraping or stirring mechanism. A battery or plurality of-vessels may be used instead of the single unit illustrated.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2 to 6 inclusive a detailed description will be given of a treating vessel, provided with internal heating means and external insulation. The vessel 15 thus illustrated embraces a shell 24. The invention contemplates that this vessel be supplied with suitable internal heating means, such for example as electric heating means. While any. suitable electric heating means may be employed a type of heating apparatus is illustrated which in practice has been found satisfactory and convenient. The type thus shown is adapted particularly for use with an alternating current 'so as to have a certain amount of inductive heating, although it is to be understood that direct current heating means may well be employed in the practice of the invention.

The heating element illustrated embraces a continuous coil 25 (a disassembled partial section of which is shown in Figure 5) and extending within the coil and concentric therewith an electrode 26 which may consist of a core or pipe made of iron or other suitable conductive material. The heating element is mounted on a beam or support 27. The pipe member 26 is shown with a collar 28 and clamp 29 by which it is suitably positioned upon the support 27 but from which it is insulated by means of an an-' nular ring 30. The coil 25 rests upon the clamp member 29 from which it is insulated by means of an insulating ring 31.

The coil 25 is composed of a plurality of arcuate sections 25 connected by elements 25 which are preferably substantially at right angles to the planes of the connected sections 25 Insulating blocks 43, which may be composed of lava rock or other suitable material, are interposed in the spaces between adjacent sections 25*. The bottom section of the coil 25 is shown (see Figure 4) as being electrically connected to the pipe or core 26 by means of a bar 32.

The upper section of the coil is provided witha conductor bar 33 which establishes communication with the conductor 34; which may be secured by a suitable binding post upon a manhead 35 of the still or vessel 15. The other conductor 36 is connected to an electrode 37 which passes into the still or vessel 15 through a stuffing box 38 suitably mounted upon the manhead 35. The electrode 37 4 terminates in a flexible conductor 39 which is secured to the upper end of the central core or pipe 36.

The shell 24 of the treating vessel'is enclosed by means of removable or adjustable insulation which, in the particular type of apparatus illustrated, assumes the form of a plurality of doors 40 suitably supported on hinges 41 The doors 40 are preferably of arcuate construction so that when closed they will fit closely to the shell 24. Each door is constructed with a layer 40* of asbestos orother similar insulating or lagging material and preferably with an outer layer 40" of galvanized iron or other suitable material. Latches 42 arc'provided by which the doors may be secured when in closed position.

In a modified type of apparatus the adjustable insulation is in the form of a tele-.

vessel and contents thereof when desired.

Moreover, the removable covers permit inspection of the vessel 15 or shell 21 during the progress of a run.

In order to more fully disclose the invention a specific example of an application thereof will now be given andas the apparatus is particularly adaptedfor the cracking or decomposition of hydrocarbon oils it will be described as thus applied. Thus the oil to be treated is charged through the heating coil 10 and brought to the temperature desired. It is then discharged into the treating vessel 15 wherein-the oil is subjected to internal heating, under such pressure as may be desired, so as to effect cracking or decomposition. The operation may be carried on either by digestion Without distillation or with the removal of vapors. By means of the apparatus of my invention it is possible to avoid subjecting the sides of the vessel to external heating thereby reducing the forma tion of injurious deposits of carbon upon the walls of the vessel. At'the same time any portion of the shell. 24 may readily be inspecte'd during a run. At the end of a run the doors 40 may be opened so as to effect rapid cooling of the still or converter thereby materially reducing the length of time required between runsfor inspection, cleaning or repair. V

In one method of carrying on the cracking operation the oil is heated in transit through the coil 10 so that it is brought to a cracking temperature but is discharged from the coil before any material decomposition takes place. In this way the bulk of the cracking, or preferably practically all of the cracking, may be carried on in the stiller vessel 15 to which no external heat is applied. As has been pointed out in the copending application of Ralph C. Holmes. Fred T. Manley and myself, Serial #263,- 562, filed November 21,1918, it is possible to pass oil through a coil or extended heating zone of restricted cross section and heat the oil in transit to a cracking temperature but remove it from the heating zone before any substantial decomposition has occurred, and then transfer the heated oil into a cracking chamber where the bulk of the cracking takes place. The present invention has a 1 special-field of usefulness in'practicingcer-' chambers and supplied with internal heating means.

tain species of the former invention wherein decomposition is carried on in a chamber or rovided with external msulation 'The internal heating means may be of a character adapted to serve only as a means of re a'ting the temperature in the cracking 0 amber, or it may be sufiicient to overcome heat loss due to decomposition or distillation, or it may be of such degree and amount as may be desired.

Another specific application of the invention which may be mentioned is its use in connection with what may be called a stripping operation in which the oil to be distilled lsheated under pressure in the coil 10' and is then discharged into the vessel 15 for distillation, the pressure being reduced therein to facilitate vaporization. The application of the-internal heat assists in effectmg the distillation desired.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in connection with apparatus having a particular construction and arran ement of parts and mode of operation, it is obvious that various chan es and modifications may be made therein, while securing to a greater or less extent some or all. of the benefits of the invention, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Therefore, only such limitationsshould be im sed as are indicated in th app nded claims.

What I claim 'is:' 1

Y 1. In apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oils, a vessel provided with internal heating means and a hinged jacket formed of heatinsulating material.

2. In apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oils, a still provided with internal heating means and a plurality of hinged cover elements formed of heatinsulatin material.

3. In apparatus for treating ydrocarbon oils, a. still formed with a cover comprising a plurality of hinged elements;

In witness whereof I have hereuntov set my hand this 24th day of January, 1924.

OTTO BEHIMER. 

